Trump officially asks Israeli president to pardon Netanyahu

President Trump sent an official letter to Israeli President Isaac Herzog calling on him to pardon Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and claimed the corruption charges against him are "political lawfare."Why it matters: Trump has repeatedly intervened in Israel's judicial system and domestic politics over Netanyahu's ongoing trial. His letter, released on Wednesday morning by the Israeli President's office, is the first official step he has taken on this matter.Driving the news: Trump wrote to Herzog that after ending the war in Gaza, he now wants to work with key Middle East leaders on expanding the Abraham Accords.He stressed that Netanyahu's "attention cannot be unnecessarily diverted" by his trial."While I absolutely respect the independence of the Israeli Justice System, and its requirements, I believe that this 'case' against Bibi, who has fought alongside me for a long time, including against the very tough adversary of Israel, Iran, is a political, unjustified prosecution... It is time to let Bibi unite Israel by pardoning him," Trump wrote.Between the lines: While Israeli law allows President Herzog to pardon almost any person charged or convicted of a crime, Supreme Court rulings and other legal guidelines limit his authority. Under the current legal procedures, only a defendant or a member of his family can appeal to the president for a pardon.In all cases in recent years, Israeli defendants had to plead guilty and acknowledge wrongdoing. In addition, the Ministry of Justice usually has to weigh in and recommend a pardon. The other side: The Israeli President's office said in a statement that Herzog "holds President Trump in high regard" and appreciates his support for Israel, contribution to the return of the hostages, the transformation of the Middle East and Gaza, and the safeguarding of Israel's security."That said, as the President has made clear on several occasions, anyone seeking a pardon must submit a request in accordance with the established procedures," Herzog's office said.The big picture: Netanyahu is standing trial for charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust in three separate cases.He's accused of accepting more than $200,000 in gifts from wealthy businessmen, and of granting regulatory benefits worth hundreds of millions of dollars to a telecom tycoon in exchange for favorable news coverage.The trial has stretched on for four years, in part due to Netanyahu's repeated legal delay tactics. The former head of Israel's domestic security agency has accused the prime minister of trying to use his executive powers to stall the case.Trump called on Herzog to pardon Netanyahu during his speech in the Israeli Knesset last month, and later said Netanyahu had asked him to. "Cigars and champagne, who the hell cares about this?" Trump said, referring to alleged illicit gifts mentioned in one of the charges.Behind the scenes: After Trump raised the issue in his speech, senior Israeli officials conveyed a message to his advisers emphasizing the differences between the pardon processes in Israel and the U.S., sources familiar with those conversations say.The Israeli officials laid out the formal procedure that would have to be followed and advised that if Trump was serious about it he could write an official letter to Herzog. Last week, after a "60 Minutes" interview in which Trump said he'd "be involved" in Netanyahu's corruption trial "to help him out a little bit," Trump's advisers told Herzog's office he was considering several options but hadn't yet made a decision.Eventually, Trump decided to formally submit his request to Herzog in writing. A senior White House official said this was not part of a broader diplomatic deal related to the war in Gaza or other regional issues."Nobody came to Bibi and said it was quid pro quo. The president fundamentally believes that Bibi should be pardoned," the White House official said. Three Trump advisers told Axios that the President's decision to intervene in Netanyahu's case comes from Trump's feeling that the Israeli leader is going through the same thing Trump went through when he was indicted."He thinks it is a similar injustice and he is going to continue weighing in on this," one Trump adviser said.Go deeper: Trump says he'll "be involved" in Netanyahu's corruption trial "to help him out"

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